Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Ok, so I am came across this incredible Strawberry Basil Lemonade recipe from What's Gaby Cooking and I needed to make it. Its pretty much everything I love in one glass. Strawberries, lemonade, basil & a little sweet!! Since I pretty much have the biggest sweet tooth ever. Also, its the perfect combination of homemade lemonade and fresh fruit puree. 

This drink can be even better, because its perfect with a little vodka or gin, too! Depending on what event I'm going to or who's drinking with me, I will add either sparkling water or gin or vodka. Its perfect both ways! 

Anyway, this is my new favorite drink and I am pretty much obsessed, so you should be too! Oh, and you should grab some lemons and strawberries and make this over the weekend! 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients:

8-10 Strawberries tops removed
8 Lemons- Juiced
4 Cups of Water (Still or Sparkling)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 fresh basil

Directions: 

First juice the lemons and add to the pitcher. Add the water and the sugar to the lemon juice mixture and stir until dissolved. With an immersion blender, blend the strawberries and basil for 10 seconds or until completely pureed. If you don't have an immersion blender, use a food processor or blender and add separately to the mixture. Stir and serve over ice! 

Triple Berry Smoothie

I am so excited because Spring is in the air here in Minnesota, and I am so ready for warm weather, cold drinks and being outdoors so I thought there would be no better way, than to make a delicious and beautiful triple layer smoothie to brighten up the day! I also thought it would be the perfect healthy recipe to start off the day!  To check out the recipe here for ingredients and steps to make! 

I came across this recipe from a LA based lifestyle blogger that I started to follow recently. She has incredible ideas, DIY tips, travel inspiration and is known best for her recognizable aesthetic and styling! Check out her website here! 

I didn't stick to the recipe exactly and decided to throw in a few other ingredients that I love and to make it more of my own. Also, I wanted to use as little dairy products as possible, so instead of using whole milk, I subbed almond milk instead! The original recipe included pineapple as well and so to make it a completely berry smoothie, I decided to include blackberries in place of the pineapple, which also gives the top layer the beautiful dark purple color! Lastly, to give it more of a healthy spin, I included some chia seeds in the smoothie as well! 

Ok, so I have to admit, making the thee layers is a bit more challenging than you'd think! In order to make sure your smoothie look beautiful and has the defined colors and layers, make sure after each time blending the ingredients, you store in the freezer for at least 10 minutes for it to become more of a thicker consistency, so the layers can sit nicely on top of one another. Also, another tip to create that beautiful triple layer look, SPOON in the middle and top layer of the smoothie!  

Finally, if to make your triple layer smoothie look even prettier, top it off with a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut flakes and a cute straw! This triple layer smoothie really incorporates the perfect amount of berries, yogurt, coconut and healthiness into one jar!